Heat flooded her face, and she changed the subject.“How’s Irene’s new job?”
“Oh, you know, having to work her way through the ins and outs.I think she’ll like it more by the time summer’s over.”
They chatted for a few more minutes.After they hung up, she read the text message that had come in from Erin Carpenter, Calvin Brock’s girlfriend.They’d been assigned the same cabin on the cruise.
She had no idea about cruise culture, but apparently, Erin did.They coordinated decorations for their door, supplies, and accoutrements that they had each packed.She bypassed Erin’s nervous energy about meeting Cynthia Norton.She’d met her a few weeks ago and enjoyed the time they spent together tremendously.No one would ever know her father was the Vice President of the United States from just talking to her over tea.She knew Cynthia would prefer it if people didn’t define her by her pedigree.
Olive finished writing the note for her neighbor’s teenager detailing which plants got watered, on what day and where to leave the mail, then put the requested sodas in the refrigerator.She looked around the kitchen before wandering into the living room.
With all of the pre-vacation nervous energy coursing through her, she didn’t think she’d sleep.So, she changed into the dress she planned to wear tomorrow, then grabbed her latest Violet Pearl mystery and curled up in her big chair.
The doorbell surprised her.She must have dozed off.As she got up, she checked her phone.4:10!She had slept for hours.
Jerry stood on her doorstep wearing a pair of knee-length khaki shorts and a white shirt covered in red palm fronds.“Morning, soldier.You look ready for the tropics,” she said, sleep clinging to her voice.
He wiggled his eyebrows.“You look like you just woke up, bed head.”
“Sure did.My alarm should be going off in about five minutes.”She stepped back as he walked in and gladly accepted his kiss.Then said, “I’m going to go freshen up.”
“I can take your bag to the truck.”
“I still need to pack my makeup bag.Give me five minutes.”On her way to the bedroom, she said, “Coffee maker’s prepped if you want to get that brewing.”
In the bathroom, she quickly brushed her teeth, then brushed her hair and pulled it into a braid.She ran her hands down the front of her green sundress.It had handled sleeping in the chair well.After repacking her makeup bag, she tossed it into the open suitcase on her bed and zipped it shut.
When she wheeled it into the living room, she found Jerry standing near the door, a travel mug of coffee in one hand and his phone in the other.As soon as he heard her, he slipped the phone in his pocket and smiled, holding out the coffee.“Mine’s still brewing.All set?”
“Yep.”She traded him her suitcase for the cup, then took a sip.He had added exactly the right amount of cream.She closed her eyes, savoring the creamy brew.While he took the bag outside, she ran through a mental checklist as she entered the kitchen and grabbed his coffee cup.She rinsed everything out and wiped it all down, then met him back in the front room.
“I am so excited!”she said, slipping her tote bag handles over her shoulder.“Let’s get this party started!”
“There’s something I need to tell you before we go,” he said.
His serious tone gave her pause.A nervous flutter started somewhere in her chest.“Okay.”
“This is between you and me.You can’t talk to your roommate about it.Brock told me he hadn’t said anything, and he really shouldn’t.”
“So, unofficially,” she offered.
“Let’s go so far as to say hypothetically and completely off the record.”
Less alarmed and more curious, she perched on the arm of the chair.“Understood.”
“Phil’s fiancée, Melissa?Her sister’s in witness protection.”
Olive raised an eyebrow.Of all of the things she might have thought would come out of his mouth, that didn’t even make the long list.“Really?Do you know why?”
“I do.Can you keep a secret?”
“You know I can,” she nodded.
“So can I,” he answered without any additional elaboration.
“Oh, so you’re funny in the early morning hours, too, are you?”
Jerry winked and took a sip of coffee.“The reason they’re getting married on a cruise ship is to provide a protected and enclosed space for her sister to attend the wedding.”
She quickly worked through the logistics.“Wow.That’s kind of big.How did they pull it off?”
